Flush valve combination



1366- 1964 A. 1.. DE LISLE FLUSH VALVE COMBINATION Filed July 10, 1962 AUGUSTE LOU/3 dc L/SLE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,153,373 FLUSH VALVE if, /llllNATl@N August-e Louis de Lisle, 6913 harry Lvnn Aria, of one-half to William Scottsdale, Ariz.

Filed July 9, l%?., er. No. 263,839 3 Qiaims. (ill. 4-57) My invention relates to fiush valve combinations for toilet flush tanks, and more in particular to a unitary ball valve, ball valve support and ball valve lift assembly adapted for mounting with the usual overflow pipe and actuating lever found in standard installations.

The usual flush tank is supported some distance above a toilet bowl so that water in the flush tank, when suddenly released, will flow by gravity into the bowl and flush the same. Replenishing water level is controlled by a float valve, and any water rising above the top level of an overflow tube provided for the purpose drains from the flush tank into the bowl. Commonly, also, the overflow pipe, which is usually adjacent to the drain opening leading from the bottom of the tank and a valve seat above the same, supports metal guides for a valve stem carrying a rubber or the like valve engaging said seat to close said drain opening. The valve stem is usually engaged by a link or links attached to an actuating lever which is manipulated by a handle outside the flush tank.

There is an almost universal tendency for the metal parts of the flush valve support and actuating assembly to become corroded so as to interfere with the free action of the flush valve. Normally, rubber flush valves are easily replaced, but this does not solve the problem of corrosion. Usually, it is not solved short of substantially complete replacement of metal parts. Frequently, such replacement becomes imnossible, either because of corrosion itself, or because new parts do not provide exact original dimensions, and free operation is not obtained.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an improved replacement flush valve assembly.

Another object is the provision of a unitary assembly which is supported on the overflow pipe in such a manner as to assure positive sealing of the ball flush valve provided.

I am aware thatit has already been proposed to mount a replacement support for a flush valve on the usual overflow pipe, and that in at least one instance of which 1 am aware such support has a flexible hinge-like member attached to the overflow pipe. it has even been suggested that the ball flush valve be supported in a tubular screen to positively guide it to its seat. Replacement devices of the prior art which do not positively control the flush valve in the manner of a new installation are found to continuously fail because of failure of the flush valve to seat. The tubular screen functions after a fashion when new, but it soon fails because the water will not pass rapidly through the screen.

I have experimented extensively with the device of the present invention, and have found it provides unusually good results as a replacement and a long and useful life is indicated. No leakage occurs even after extensive use.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the flush valve combination of the present invention prior to its installation in a toilet flush tank;

3358523 i atented Dec. 1, 1964 FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing the device installed and ready for use, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing details of construction.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide a floatable ball valve iii, an integral flexible tongue 11, and an integral generally annular but frusto-conical support 12, the smaller diameter end 13 of which faces upwardly as shown in all three figures. An integral but flexible cord 14 is provided with one end connected to the top of the ball valve it) and the opposite end free. The length of the cord is suflicient, as will be seen, for attachment to the regular flush tank operating lever, so that such cord may comprise the operating link between the flush valve and the regularly provided flush tank operating mechanism.

Before describing further the details of producing the device of the present invention, reference will be made to its application and use. In FIG. 2, the flush tank and its operating parts are illustrative and are not intended to indicate any particular style or make of equipment.

The flush tank 16 comprises the usual rectangular generally porcelainized tank with a removable cover (not shown). A hollow ball 17 floating on the water in the tank is connected to an arm 18 which controls admission of water through a float valve 19 to a predetermined level. An overflow pipe 21 is mounted in the bottom of the flush tank and communicates with the toilet bowl (not shown) through an opening 22 shown in dotted lines. The flush valve, comprising in FIG. 2 the ball valve 1%, engages a seat 23 to close an opening 24 communicating with the toilet bowl, and through which tank water is delivered to flush the bowl. An actuating lever 26 has one end pivoted at 27, and the usual exterior actuating handle 28 is provided to lift the lever 26.

Having removed the usual flush valve, flush valve stem, and guides therefor, the generally tubular portion 12 of the flush valve combination of the present invention is pulled down over the overflow pipe 21 with the smaller diameter end uppermost. This permits the generally tubular portion to be moved downwardly with case, but makes upward movement difiicult. The generally tubular portion will normally be drawn to the very bottom of the overflow pipe, as shown in FIG. 2, and it will, therefore, remain in theposition where it has been installed. Thus installed, with the ball valve 19 directly over the valve seat 23, the cord 14 is secured to the actuating lever 26, leaving a very small amount of slack, preferably, when the lever is at its lowermost position. Thus, operating the handle lifts the ball valve ill from its seat, permits it to floatably move about the flexible tongue as a hinge, and move to the position shown in dotted lines in E16. 2. As the last of the flushing water leaves the tank, the ball valve is positively guided to its seat 23 and again closes the tank so that the filling cycle can again be initiated.

To obtain the functions described, certain details of construction of the device are important. First, the generally tibular portion is dimensioned so that, taking the average diameter of overflow pipes, the smaller diameter end will fit snugly on the overflow pipe, and the bottom or larger diameter portion will remain spaced slightly from the overflow pipe so that it can fit around the top of any ring or the like fitting used to position and secure the overflow pipe. While I do not wish to belimited as to specific dimensions, using a semi-resilient material, good results are obtained if the generally tubular portion 12 is about one inch in diameter at its smaller end and one and one-quarter to one and one-half inches in diameter at its larger end. Its total length is preferably about one and one-half inches, but this also may be varied slightly. Considering the height of seat 23, the parts should preferably be so proportioned that when installed the tongue will be substantially horizontal.

In the usual flush tank, the distance from the center of overflow pipe to the center of the valve seat 23 is two and one-half to three inches maximum. I provide a distance of about two and three-quarter inches from the center of the ball valve 19 to the center of the generally tubular portion 12, thus approximately providing for the tongue being horizontal and allowing for some stretching I of the generally tubular portion around the overflow pipe.

While the tongue 11 is preferably connected to the smaller end of the generally tubular portion .12, the point of attachment to the ball valve depends in part on the width'of the tongue. It is preferably wide enough to hold the ball valve in fixed'relation in the manner of a flexible hinge, a width of one to one and one-quarter inches being satisfactory, and in this case the point of attachment to the ball valve may be about one-half inch below the periphery of the ball at its top when in installed position. The point of attachment of the cord to the ball valve 10 is preferably at the very'top when the device is installed.

By the construction and relative dimensioning shown and described, the 'ball can only lie against the-overflow pipe when it floats in response to being drawn from its 'seat. It is, moreover, positioned to move downwardly substantially exactly to its seat when the flushing water has drained from the tank, but its support isstill sufliciently flexible so that minor adjustment in seating'r eadily takes place. The ball is held on its seat, of course, by the pressure of water thereon. Its displacement and weight are such that it will not be floated from its seat before there is suflicient weight of water to hold it in position. Preferably, therefore, it is only approximately twenty-five percent lighter than the water which it displaces. It must, of course, be sufliciently light that no accumulation of matter accruing in use will cause it to weigh as much as equal volume of tank water.

The device of the present invention may be made in a number of ways and of various materials. Until recent years it would have been necessary to make all of the parts except the cord of semi-soft rubber, using conventional techniques, such as producing the ball in two halves, vulcanizing the two halves together while a suitable gas was used within the ball to maintain its shape, and then to adhesively attach the cord 14 and tongue 11 to the completed ball. Modern techniques and materials have made many specific methods and structures available. One illustrative method maybe considered.

A light-weight ball shaped base 31 as shown in FIG. 3 is first formed either of essentially light-weight material or material treated to provide lightening voids. Thus, for example, the base 31 may be fairly rigid foam plastic. The ball is finished by application of a vulcanized imperforate coating 32 of tough synthetic semi-elastic rubber, and the tongue and generally tubular portion 12 molded with the coating 32 all in one piece.

The cord 14 may be rubberized cotton or the like, With one end extending into contact with the base portion 31 and a vulcanized attachment made to the cover 32 through a head 33. I have hit upon a very satisfactory vulcanization. A fully vulcanized, rubberized cord is thus provided, ready for use as it leaves the U-tube. Such a cord is attached firmly to the bead 33 during vulcanization of the cover 32.

I have shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention, and manner of producing and using the same, but the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A flush valve combination of the character described, comprising:

(a) a generally tubular but frusto-conical member adapted for attachment to the usual overflow pipe with the smaller diameter end facing upwardly, the smaller diameter end of said frusto-conical portion gripping exterior walls of the said overflow pipe but the larger diameter end thereof spaced from said pipe, whereby the said generally tubular portion is easily applied to but difficultly removed from said overflow pipe;

([2) a ball shaped flush valve having such specific gravity as to be fioatable in the tank water, said ball valve of a size to engage the usual seat at the tank drain opening to close said opening;

(0) an integral tongue interconnecting said ball valve and generally tubular member, said tongue being of such dimension as to substantially center the ball valve on its said seat when the generally tubular member is in engagement with the said overflow pipe, and

(d). a cord having one end secured to said ball valve at the top thereof when the ball is in engagement with said seat, said cord adapted for attachment to an actuating lever forlifting said ball from its seat.

2. A flush valve combination of the character described,

comprising:

(a) a generally tubular but frusto-conical member adapted for attachment to the usual overflow pipe with the smaller diameter end facing upwardly, the smaller diameter end of said frusto-conical portion gripping exterior walls of the said overflow pipe but the larger diameter end thereof spaced from said pipe, whereby the said generally tubular portion is easily applied to but diflicultly removed from said overflow pipe;

([2) a ball shaped flush valve having such specific gravity as' to be floatable in the tank water, said ball valve of a size to engage the usual seat at the tank drain opening to close said opening,

' (c) a tongue with one end forming a continuation of a top edge of said smaller diameter portion and another end secured to the said ball valve, said tongue so shaped and dimensioned that it lies in a general horizontal plane when the ball is in engagement with its said seat, and I (d) a cord having one end secured to said ball valve at the top thereof when the ball is in engagement withsaid seat, said cord adapted for attachment to an actuating lever for lifting said ball from its seat.

3. A flush valve combination of the character described,

comprising:

(a) a generally tubular but frusto-conical member adapted for attachment to the usual overflow pipe with the smaller diameter'endfacing upwardly, the

(c) a tongue with one end forming a continuation of a top edge of said smaller diameter portion and another end secured to the said ball valve, said tongue so shaped and dimensioned that it lies in a general horizontal plane when the ball is in engagement with its said seat,

(d) a cord of rubberized fabric having one end extending into said ball valve at the top thereof when the ball is in engagement with said seat, said cord adapted for attachment to an actuating lever for lifting said ball from its seat, and

(e) a vulcanized attachment between said ball and said end of the rubberized fabric cord projecting into said ball,

(f) said ball comprising a firm base of sponge plastic with an outer imperforate covering of a suitable rubber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,967 6/52 Bennett 457 2,767,406 10/56 Bennett 4-57 2,863,154 12/58 Bennett 4-57 EDWARD V. BENHAM, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner. 

1. A FLUSH VALVE COMBINATION OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY TUBULAR BUT FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE USUAL OVERFLOW PIPE WITH THE SMALLER DIAMETER END FACING UPWARDLY, THE SMALLER DIAMETER END OF SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION GRIPPING EXTERIOR WALLS OF THE SAID OVERFLOW PIPE BUT THE LARGER DIAMETER END THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID PIPE, WHEREBY THE SAID GENERALLY TUBULAR PORTION IS EASILY APPLIED TO BUT DIFFICULTLY REMOVED FROM SAID OVERFLOW PIPE; (B) A BALL SHAPED FLUSH VALVE HAVING SUCH SPECIFIC GRAVITY AS TO BE FLOATABLE IN THE TANK WATER, SAID BALL VALVE OF A SIZE TO ENGAGE THE USUAL SEAT AT THE TANK DRAIN OPENING TO CLOSE SAID OPENING; (C) AN INTEGRAL TONGUE INTERCONNECTING SAID BALL VALVE AND GENERALLY TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TONGUE BEING OF SUCH DIMENSION AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY CENTER THE BALL VALVE ON ITS SAID SEAT WHEN THE GENERALLY TUBULAR MEMBER IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID OVERFLOW PIPE, AND (D) A CORD HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID BALL VALVE AT THE TOP THEREOF WHEN THE BALL IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEAT, SAID CORD ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ACTUATING LEVER FOR LIFTING SAID BALL FROM ITS SEAT. 